Overhead conveying apparatus, in particular for items hanging on hooks

ABSTRACT

An overhead conveying apparatus, in particular for items hanging on hooks, having a conveying chain ( 4 ) which is guided in a chain guide ( 3 ), the chain ( 4 ) having chain studs ( 5 ) which project laterally beyond the chain flanges ( 13 ) on one side of the chain ( 4 ), there being provided plate-like carrying elements ( 19 ) which are arranged in a state in which they have been pushed onto the bolts ( 5 ) by way of holes ( 20 ), the carrying elements ( 19 ) being of plate-like design and being arranged one after the other on the chain, the carrying elements ( 19 ) having at least one opening ( 30 ) or one cutout ( 30 ) for accommodating a hook for the items.

[0001] The invention relates to an overhead conveying apparatus, in particular for items hanging on hooks.

[0002] DE 40 26 546 A1 discloses a conveying apparatus which is intended for items hanging on hooks, in particular items of clothing, in the case of which the items of clothing are conveyed along a rail on which the hooks rest. The hooks here are conveyed by a chain conveyor, the chain conveyor engaging in the running path of the hooks by way of conveying fingers and pushing said hooks by means of the fingers. The disadvantage of such an apparatus is that it requires a large amount of space and, in addition, is very complex and expensive to produce.

[0003] It is also known for items of clothing in particular to be transported in a state in which they hang on so-called trolleys, these trolleys being displaced along a rail on which they are retained in a hanging state by way of rollers.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide an overhead conveying apparatus which is of straightforward construction, is easy to assemble and maintain and easily conveys even over relatively narrow radii, it being possible for the conveyable items to have a small spacing between them and nevertheless being conveyed separately.

[0005] The object is achieved by an overhead conveying apparatus having the features of claim 1.

[0006] According to the invention, at least some of the chain studs are formed on a transporting chain, guided in a corresponding transporting profile, such that they project laterally beyond the chain, the projecting ends being guided in part of the profile. Between the actual chain and the guide part for the ends of the projecting chain studs, plate-like conveying elements are pushed onto the chain studs and extend out of the conveying rail through a slot. The conveying elements here can be moved in relation to one another in each case, with the result that the movements of the chain can be followed well, even if the latter is guided around narrow radii.

[0007] In the case of such a conveying apparatus, it is advantageous for the latter to convey reliably, the apparatus being of straightforward construction and allowing items of clothing to be conveyed relatively closely together, but separately, it being possible for the plate-like elements in particular to be provided with correcting arrangements, with the result that the items, which are conveyed separately at a close spacing from one another, can also be separated in accordance with the coding for selection purposes.

[0008] Such an apparatus is particularly well-suited, in particular, for wardrobes in theatres, department stores or the like, where sorting and conveying operations have to be carried out reliably and quickly in an extremely confined amount of space even with narrow radii.

[0009] The invention will be explained by way of example with reference to a drawing, in which:

[0010]FIG. 1 shows a perspective, partly sectioned view of an overhead conveying apparatus according to the invention,

[0011]FIG. 2 shows an overhead conveying apparatus according to FIG. 1 in the region of a downwardly directed curved conveying section,

[0012]FIG. 3 shows an overhead conveying apparatus according to FIG. 1 in an upwardly directed conveying movement,

[0013]FIG. 4 shows a perspective, partly sectioned view of a further embodiment of the conveying apparatus according to the invention,

[0014]FIG. 5 shows the conveying apparatus according to FIG. 4 in an upwardly conveying section, and

[0015]FIG. 6 shows the overhead conveying apparatus according to FIG. 4 in a downwardly conveying section.

[0016] An overhead conveying apparatus 1 according to the invention has a conveying rail 2, a chain guide 3 which is arranged in the conveying rail 2, and a conveying chain 4.

[0017] The conveying rail 2 is designed as an elongate plastic or metal hollow profile, the conveying rail 2 being designed with grooves 7 on the outside for fastening the same on carrying structures.

[0018] The conveying rail 2, which is designed as a hollow profile, has a cavity 8 in the interior, said cavity being of, for example, flat rectangular design in cross section. The conveying rail 2 has an axial slot 9 in relation to the conveying direction or conveying operation.

[0019] The chain guide 3 is arranged in the cavity 8. The chain guide 3 is an elongate, essentially rectangular plastic or metal hollow profile, preferably plastic hollow profile, which has an outer contour which corresponds to the inner contour of the rail 2. The chain guide 3 is thus arranged essentially with a form fit in the conveying rail 2. The chain guide 3, in alignment with the slot 9, has a slot 10 which can extend through the chain guide 3 and subdivides the chain guide 3 into two profile halves 12, 16.

[0020] On one profile half 12 of the chain guide 3, the chain guide 3 has an inner or hollow contour which corresponds to the chain 4 which is to be guided, a vertical slot or groove 14 being provided for the flanges 13 of the chain 4 which are directed away from the slot 10 and a horizontal slot being provided between the slot 14 and slot 10, said horizontal slot having top and bottom crosspieces (which cannot be seen) on which the chain rollers 15 can roll. Introduced on the side 16, which is located diametrically opposite the profile guiding the chain 4, is a horizontal slot or a horizontal groove 17 in which the three ends 18 of the chain studs 5 are guided.

[0021] A free space is provided between the profile half 16 and the chain flanges 13 directed toward it, plate-like carrying elements 19 with holes 20—which correspond to the spacing between the studs 5—being arranged in a state in which they have been pushed onto the studs.

[0022] The carrying elements 19 are designed as essentially flat rectangular plates.

[0023] The carrying elements 19 thus have two mutually opposite narrow edges 22, 23 and two mutually opposite longitudinal edges 24, 25 connecting the latter. A narrow edge 22 extends to a longitudinal edge 24 by way of a slope 26 such that the edge 22 is approximately half the width of the edge 23. Arranged in the region of the edge 22 are the two holes 20, which have a spacing between them which corresponds to the stud spacing of the chain.

[0024] In the region of the longitudinal edges 24, 25, the transporting elements each have a groove or recess 27, 28 by means of which the plate-like elements are tapered approximately by half in cross section, the recesses 27, 28 being made in mutually opposite flat sides. In the assembled state, the plate-like carrying elements 19 hang on the chain studs such that the carrying elements 19 are arranged in an interengaging or overlapping manner in the region of the grooves 27, 28. The plate-like carrying elements 19 have in each case one essentially rectangular transporting opening 30 adjacent to an end edge 23, in the direction of the end wall 22, over approximately half their extent.

[0025] In each case one coding section 31 is provided between the openings 30 and the end edge 22. The coding sections 31. may have coding means (not shown). In the simplest case, the coding means may have stuck-on numbers. It is also possible for the coding means to comprise a barcode or the like, and it is further possible for the coding means to have an electronic component or the like which can be read in a contactless manner or by sensing contact. The overhead conveying apparatus has a corresponding read-out device and/or coding device for this purpose.

[0026] In the case of a further embodiment of the invention (FIGS. 4 to 6), the plate-like carrying elements 19 are likewise of flat rectangular plate-like design, the plate-like carrying elements 19 here having no grooves and the end edge 22 having approximately the same width as the end edge 23. In this embodiment, four bores 20 for chain studs 5 are provided in the region of the end edge 22, the plate-like elements 19, following one after the other on the chain studs, being spaced apart from one another in each case by a chain-stud spacing and not being arranged in an interengaging manner. These elements 19 have two openings 30 which follow one after the other and, accordingly, are located one beside the other.

[0027] It is also possible for such plate-like elements 19 to have the corresponding coding devices. 

1. An overhead conveying apparatus, in particular for items hanging on hooks, having a conveying chain (4) which is guided in a chain guide (3), the chain (4) having chain studs (5) which project laterally beyond the chain flanges (13) on one side of the chain (4), there being provided plate-like carrying elements (19) which are arranged in a state in which they have been pushed onto the bolts (5) by way of holes (20), the carrying elements (19) being of plate-like design and being arranged one after the other on the chain, the carrying elements (19) having at least one opening (30) or one cutout (30) for accommodating a hook for the items.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chain guide (3) is arranged in a conveying rail (2), the conveying rail (2) being designed as an elongate plastic or metal hollow profile and the conveying rail (2) having grooves (7) on the outside for fastening the same on carrying structures.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the conveying rail (2), which is designed as a hollow profile, has a cavity (8) in the interior, the conveying rail (2) having an axial slot (9) in relation to the conveying direction or conveying operation.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the chain guide (3) is arranged in the cavity (8), the chain guide (3) being an elongate, essentially rectangular plastic or metal hollow profile, preferably a plastic hollow profile, which has an outer contour which can be introduced with a force fit into the inner contour of the rail (2), the chain guide (3), in alignment with the slot (9), having a slot (10) which extends into or through the chain guide (3) and subdivides the chain guide (3) into two profile halves (12, 16).
 5. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the chain guide (3), on one profile half (12), has an inner or hollow contour which essentially corresponds to the chain (4) which is to be guided, a vertical slot or groove (14) being provided for the flanges (13) of the chain (4) which are directed away from the slot (10) and a horizontal slot being provided between the slot (14) for the chain flanges (13) and the slot (10) in the chain guide (3), said horizontal slot having top and bottom crosspieces on which the chain rollers (15) can roll.
 6. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein introduced on the side (16), which is located diametrically opposite the profile guiding the chain (4), is a horizontal slot or a horizontal groove (17) in which the free ends (18) of the chain studs (5) are guided.
 7. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein a free space is provided between one profile half (16) and the chain flanges (13) directed toward it, the carrying elements (19) being arranged in the free space in a state in which they have been pushed onto the studs.
 8. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrying elements (19) have two mutually opposite narrow edges (22, 23) and two mutually opposite longitudinal edges (24, 25) connecting the latter, holes (20) being provided in the region of the edge (22) in order for the carrying element (19) to be pushed onto projecting chain studs (5), the carrying elements (19) having at least one essentially rectangular transporting opening (30) adjacent to an end edge (23), in the direction of the end wall (22), approximately over half their extent.
 9. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein in each case one coding section (31) is provided between the openings (30) and the end edge (22), the coding section having coding means, and the coding means having stuck-on numbers, a bar code or the like and/or having coding means in the form of electronic components which can be read in a contactless manner or by sensing contact.
 10. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein a narrow edge (22) extends to a longitudinal edge (24) by way of a slope (26) such that the edge (22) is approximately half the width of the edge (23) , there being arranged, in the region of the edge (22), two holes (20) which have a spacing between them which corresponds to the stud spacing of the chain and, in the region of the longitudinal edges (24, 25), the transporting elements each have a groove or recess (27, 28) by means of which the plate-like elements are tapered by approximately half in cross section, the recesses (27, 28) being made in mutually opposite flat sides of the carrying elements (19).
 11. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein, in the installed state, the plate-like carrying elements (19) hang on the chain studs (5) such that the carrying elements (19) are arranged one after the other in an interengaging or overlapping manner in the region of the grooves (27, 28).
 12. The apparatus as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the plate-like carrying elements (19) are of rectangular plate-like design, the plate-like carrying elements (19) having four bores (20) for chain studs (5) in the region of the end edge (22), the plate-like elements (19), following one after the other on the chain studs (5), being spaced apart from one another in each case by a chain-stud spacing, and the elements (19) having openings (30) which follow one after the other and, accordingly, are located one beside the other. 